Traffic signal



Feb. 22,1927. 1,618,581 F. F. DENDINGER v TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed June ll. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l S14/vanter,

, 1,618,581 Feb- 22 1927' F. F. DENDINGER TRAFFIC SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June ll. 1.924

wvemtoz @3W am@ Mw- Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITE?! STATES P NT FFICE.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application led .Tune 11,

This invention relates to traftic signals Vand it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal adapted to be used at the intersection of streets to direct themovement of the traftic and pedestrians and thereby eliminating the necessity of traliic ocers at such places. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide asignal adapted to be electrically operated at intervals to lower arms part way across the street at diagonal corners and at the same time raising the arms at the oppositecorners and at the same time move short arm sections across the sidewalk thereby warning the pedestrians that the cross street is open to vehicular traiiic.

The arms which are lowered across the street are positioned at points high enough abovethe level of the street to permit automobiles to clear or pass under them when they are lowered, but these arms may be provided with chain sections which h ang pendent and in the event that the driver of a machine should disregard the signal and attempt to pass under the arm when it is lowered, the said chain sections will strike the wind shield of the machine of which the driver is disregarding the signal. The arm may be provided with a colored electric lamp bulb which will illuminate when the said arm is lowered and an electrically operated bell or other audible signal may be connected in the circuit which illuminates the lamp bulb.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating the intersection of several streets and with the trafiie signal arranged vin system thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tratiic signal with parts thereof shown in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the modified form of the trariic signal.

The signal comprises a post 1 which is hollow and which is adapted to be erected adjacent the corner of intersecting streets and preferably at the curbing of the sidewalk. The upper portion of the post- 1 is slotted as at 2. VA shaft 3 is liournalled transversely of the post 1 at the lower end portion of the slot 2 and a relatively long arm 4 is mounted upon the shaft 3. The

1924. lSerial No. 719,394.

arm 4 is adapted to swing transversely across the street when it is lowered. A transparency 5 is carried at the free end portion of the arm 4 and is preferably provided with a legend adapted to indicate that the street is closed7 as for instance,4 the word Stop.

The arm 4 is provided at its inner end with a gear segment 6 arranged concentricallywith relation tothe shaft 8. A rack bar Tis mountedfor longitudinal movement through a guide 8 in the post l and the teeth of the rack bar 7 mesh with the teeth 6. The lower end of the bar 7 is pivotally connected with the upper end 0f the core 9 arranged for sliding movement in a magnet 10 which is housed within the lower portion of the post 1. Electric wires 11 are adapted to conduct the electric current to the magnet 10. -A relatively short arm 12 is connected with the shaft 3 and is provided with a danger sign 13. The arm 12 is adapted to swing across the sidewalk when the arm 4 is swung across the street or roadway. An electric bulb 14 is carried by the arm 4 and electric wires 16 extend along'k the said arm and are adapted to conduct the electric current to the bulb 14. @ne of the wires 15 leads to a source of electric supply and the other wire 15 connects with a terminal 16 adapted to have contact with a terminal 17 mounted upon the post 1 when the arm 4 is swung to a lowered position as shown in Figure 2. Therefore when the arm 4 is swung to a lowered position, the bulb 14 is illuminated and in the event that an electric bell or other audible signal is connected with the wires 15, the said audible signal is sounded.

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, chain sections 18 may be connected with the arm 4 and in the event that the driver of a machineV should attempt to pass under the arm while it is in the lowered position, the said chain sections will strike the windshield of his machine and break the same and thereby eifectually warning the driver that the street is closed to vehicular traffic.

The post 1 arranged at diagonal opposite corners of the intersecting streets is connected with the same electric wires 11- and each set of electric wires 11 is provided with a switch 2O which may be closed and the said wires connect with the batteries or generator 21. Therefore when the switch 2O is closed, the :nuns upon the `post nl: the diagonal opposite eoi'nei's iu'e simultaneously swung :zeroes the street und the sidewalks thus Serving :is Warnings o1' signals that the movement of ti'nllie along the seid street ie teinpoi'zu'ihY Suspended ox? interrupted und :it suoli time the switch which controls the supply of Current to the signals ut the intersecting sti-eels muy be opened, thus permitting the magnets l0 to di'ziw the cores 9 whereb)7 the ruck hei's 7 :ire moved longi tudinu-lly und the :nins eil are swung "to voi.'- tienl poiitious, sind this` indicates tlint the Suid street oyen to the movement of veliienlm' ti'uliie and pedestrians.

l'flfnving described the invention, what claimed is:

A trnilie sign-ail comprising n hollow eylindiieul postv having :i slot, nn electromag- `net mounted in the bottoni of the hollowv post, `u limiting positioned in the post zlhove the eleetio-iiingnet end nttnehed tothe ineide sui-lace of the post eo that its bore .iso'l'l'eet in ifelntion to the exis oit' the post, :1 bei' slidehle in the hearing to nieve in parallel spaced relation with the exis ot the poet, seid bei' heine connected with the `core ol the ln'eggnet, und provided Withi'ueli teeth adjacent its 'eppoi' end, :i Shaft extending' ti'niisveieely through the upper interior oif the poste :in :ii'ni extending through Suid slof;v and pivoted et one end to seid shaft, Seid pivoled end heine infovided with teeth iiieeliing with the teeth ol the hei' whereby the ziini ning'v heswuug upon enen gizotion of the magnet.

In testimonyv whereof ture.

l zillif; my sigrin FRANK F. nnnnineilin.

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